What are your top 10 Pittsburgh city neighborhoods?

[trotter_rej]

Originally Posted by Sideblinded

I understand the gritty comment regarding Swisshelm Park. I drive through it and I don't know the entire area, but I have the same perspective.

Steep hills, houses seem to close to each other, a lot of run down houses and yards. (I have a front yard chain link fence phobia) When I drove around, I could not imagine my children out riding their bikes and feeling safe. I hope I am not dissing the area or the people that live there, It is just my impression. I am sure there are areas I have not seen.

If you "drive through it" then you are likely using the Forward/Commercial shortcut to bypass the Sq. Hill tunnel. Is that correct? If so, then you are only seeing a 2 blocks of Swisshelm Park. There are a half block of houses on Commercial before you get to the stop sign at Whipple. Most people cutting through turn left on Whipple. Whipple is in Swisshelm Park for a block and a half, it changes to Swissvale between Nevada and Oak Grove. That specific stretch may seem "gritty" since it is a high traffic area because of the shortcut, and both Commercial and Whipple are kind of steep, so I can somewhat understand your impression. I did a street view and only see 1 front yard chain link fence on that stretch, though .

As jimmyev pointed out, the rest of Swisshelm Park is pretty flat, and the other streets are full of walkers and bike riders of all ages, as well as turkeys, deer, and other wildlife that wanders in from Frick Park. (I've never seen the wildlife on bikes, however.) I find the adjacent areas of Swissvale to be very nice as well.

[BrianTH]

Yeah, I wonder if people are confusing Swisshelm Park and adjacent parts of Swissvale (which is understandable, since you need a map to know where to look for Swisshelm Park).

[Sideblinded]

Trotter,

You nailed it, I take that shortcut. My bad!